Bamboo grid for broiler

ABSTRACT

A bamboo grid for a barbeque grill comprises a plurality of natural bamboo strips, a pair of end retainers and a grid mounting set having a metal frame and a pair of grid mounting plates for mounting the grid set. An arch-shaped bamboo grid consists of a plurality of bamboo strips, a pair of end retainers, a clip array, and a grid mounting set having a rectangular steel frame, a pair of handles and grid mounting plates for mounting the bamboo grid. Another type of arch-shape bamboo grid mounting set consists of a rectangular steel frame with a handle, a pair of grid mounting plates disposed at opposite ends of the longer side of the frame for mounting the bamboo strips, a cross rod located at the center of the shorter side of the frame, the grid mounting plates having a plurality of slots and bamboo strip retainers. Another type of a bent down mounting set comprises a steel frame, a pair of grid mounting plates at opposite sides and braces at both ends for mounting a disposable bamboo grids. Another type of a bent up mounting set comprises a steel frame, a bent-up mounting plate at the top center and a pair of braces at both sides for mounting the disposable bamboo grids. A narrow bamboo strip is sliced from a natural bamboo stalk and the surface of the bamboo strip is carved with various decorative incisions not only for decorating, but also for extracting bamboo sap and allowing it to permeate into the cooking meat during broiling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a grid made of natural bamboo strips touse on a barbeque grill. More particularly, the bamboo grid is formedwith a plurality of narrow strips of natural bamboo that are carved withvarious decorative incisions through which bamboo sap will be extractedand permeated into the meat during broiling. The bamboo grid isprefabricated with a special treatment for ready use.

2. Related Prior Art

Generally, the conventional barbeque grill employs a steel grid aboveburning charcoal for broiling the food. The temperature of the burningcharcoal is high enough to instantly overcook or burn the barbecuedfood. Most steel grids have many disadvantages because they easily buildup blackened and burned oily meat debris, which are unsanitary. The foodbarbecued on an uncleaned steel grid may not be hygienic enough as aresult of contamination by leftover oily residue. Furthermore, it iswell known that eating burned meat may contribute to the development ofcancer in the human body. Some people try to clean up the steel gridbefore using it. However, it is an unpleasant and burdensome task toremove the long-term deposited oily burned meat debris. To overcomethese drawbacks, a high grid is developed. However, it does not solvethe problems of burning meat. Therefore, a disposable grid is suggestedto eliminate these kinds of problems.

Furthermore, most conventional grids made of wires are directly exposedabove the open flame. If the oily fluid discharged from the cooking meatduring broiling occasionally drips directly onto the open flames, itgenerates more fumes and odors. To avoid these occurrences, many specialconfigurations of grid are designed. However, a simple design is adoptedin this invention to solve this problem. If the heat source is dividedto both sides or arranged in the center to provide open spaces in thegrill and an inclined or declined grid is adopted, the oily fluid ispossibly collected at the center or both sides of the grill afterdripping into the collecting pan.

In view of the above, it is a prime objective to design an advanced,sanitary disposable bamboo grid, which can mitigate the above drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, a new concept ofa bamboo grid for a barbeque grill is hereby introduced.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a bamboo gridcomprising a plurality of natural bamboo strips, end retainers and agrid mounting set having a metal frame and a pair of grid mountingplates for mounting the grid set.

The grid set consists of an arch-shape bamboo grid and a grid mountingset. The arch-shaped bamboo grid consists of a plurality of bamboostrips, a pair of end retainers and a clip array. The grid mounting sethas a rectangular steel frame, a pair of handles and grid mountingplates for mounting the bamboo grid.

The end retainers made of stainless steel are formed into a U-shape forforcibly and tightly clamping both ends of the bamboo strips to preventunnecessary movement of said bamboo strips during the broiling of meat.The arch-shaped bamboo grid is assembled in the manner that the outersurface of the natural bamboo faces upward and the inner surface of thenatural bamboo is bent downward and fixed to the clip array at center.The lowest point of the arch-shaped bamboo grid is in the center, tocollect the extracted oily and juicy fluid at the center bottom to fallin an oil-collecting pan.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide the gridmounting set having a rectangular steel frame with a handle, a pair ofgrid mounting plates disposed at opposite ends of the longer side of theframe for mounting the bamboo strips, a cross rod located at the centerof the shorter side of the frame, the grid mounting plates forming aplurality of slots and bamboo strip retainers.

The rectangular steel frame is slightly bent up from the cross barlocated at center toward both grid mounting plates disposed at oppositeends of the longer side of the frame, so that one end of the bamboostrips is manually inserted underneath the cross bar and both ends ofthe bamboo strips are slightly bent up for forcibly inserting betweenthe bamboo strip retainers to form an arch-shape. The plurality ofbamboo strip retainers fixedly retains the ends of the bamboo strips forpreventing unnecessary movement of the bamboo strips during the broilingof meat. A pair of disposable bamboo grids is pre-fabricated with aplurality of bamboo strips arranged in parallel at uniform intervals bya pair of u-shape end retainers for clamping both ends of the bamboostrips, and vacuum packed to preserve the natural bamboo freshness forready use. The disposable bamboo grids are mounted on a bent downmounting set comprising a steel frame, a pair of grid mounting plates atopposite sides and braces at both ends. A bent up mounting set is alsoprovided to mount the disposable bamboo grids, which comprises a steelframe, a bent-up mounting plate at top center and a pair of braces atboth end sides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conventional Korean barbeque grill employing a bamboo gridset of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a piece of bamboo strip that is carved with various decorativeincisions.

FIG. 3 is an arch-shaped bamboo grid of the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a disassembled arch-shaped bamboo grid of the first embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a grid mounting set of the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is the bamboo grid set in which the arch-shaped bamboo grid ismounted on the grid mounting set.

FIG. 7 is another arch-shaped bamboo grid set of the second embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 8 is another grid mounting set of the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a disposable bamboo grid set of the third embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a bent down grid mounting set of the third embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a semi-assembly of the disposable bamboo grid set mounted onthe bent down grid mounting set.

FIG. 12 is a conventional grill employing the disposable bent downbamboo grid set of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a bent-up grid mounting set of the fourth embodiment of thepresent invention

FIG. 14 is a semi-assembly of the disposable bamboo grid set mounted onthe bent up grid mounting set.

FIG. 15 is a conventional grill employing the disposable bent up bamboogrid set of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged drawing to illustrate the clamping of bamboostrip ends of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

To achieve the aforementioned objectives, a new concept of a grid madeof natural bamboo strips is introduced for effectively and deliciouslybroiling meat.

Generally speaking, all kinds of wood including bamboo are definitelyburned in the high temperature flame. However, if the flame temperatureis controlled and maintained below the burning point of the bamboo, butthe temperature is hot enough to broil the meat, bamboo is possibly anideal material to make a grid for cooking meat. Therefore, this conceptof the temperature difference between the burning point of bamboo andthe cooking temperature of the meat is applied to produce a bamboo gridof the present invention.

A conventional broiling device for cooking meat is commonly comprised ofa heating source such as a charcoal or natural gas burner or electricalheater, a cooking metal grid, an oil or juicy droplet removal container,an air or fume ventilating system and a grilling oven with a cover.

As shown in FIG. 1, a Korean traditional barbeque (BBQ) grill (10)comprises an oven lower part (11) under a dining table (16), a pair ofburning charcoal containers as the primary heat sources (12), a cover orlid (13), an oil or liquid droplet collecting pan (14), a cooking grid(15) and a ventilation system (17).

The charcoal which is commonly formed in a hexagonal or cylindricalshape with a hollow core is used as the primary fuel for the Koreantraditional instant BBQ grill. When the charcoal is actively burned, itradiates strong heat waves without an open flame. The radiated heatwaves are hot enough to cook the meat without burning the bamboo grid,which is commonly considered a combustible material.

The fumes and cooking odors are exhausted through an overhead hood andventilation fan installed above the BBQ grill. The modern ventilatingsystem is installed around the cooking grid on the dining table to suckout and exhaust the fumes underneath the table.

Natural gas or electricity may also be applied as a fuel in the instantBBQ system. For using natural gas, additional devices, such as a gasburner and heat wave reflector are required to generate the heatradiating waves which will avoid burning the bamboo. To applyelectricity as a heating source, additional devices are also required,such as an electric heater and heat wave reflecting device to generatethe heat radiating waves which will avoid burning the bamboo.

As shown in FIG. 2, a narrow bamboo strip (20) is produced from anatural bamboo stalk by slicing it to a width of approximately 6˜10 mm(¼″˜½″), a thickness of 6 mm (¼″) and a length of 200˜400 mm (8″˜16″).The surface of the bamboo strip may be carved with various decorativeincisions. It could be letters, commercial logos (22) or figures (21),such as dots, lines (23) or pictures. The purpose of carving the bamboostrip surface is not only for decorating, but also for extracting bamboosap and allowing it to permeate into the meat while the meat isbroiling.

As seen in FIGS. 3 through 6, an embodiment of the arch-shaped bamboogrid of the present invention is introduced. The arch-shaped bamboo grid(30) comprises a plurality of bamboo strips (20), a pair of endretainers (31) and a clip array (32). The end retainers (31), usuallymade of stainless steel, are formed into a U-shape for clamping the endsof the bamboo strips (20). Both ends of the bamboo strips (20′) areforcibly and tightly inserted into the end retainers (31). The assemblyis performed in the manner that the outer surface of the natural bamboofaces upward and the inner surface of the natural bamboo is bentdownward and fixed to a clip array (32) at the center. A grid mountingset (50) consists of a rectangular steel frame (33), a pair of handles(35) and grid mounting seats (34) for mounting the bamboo grid (30). Asshown in FIG. 6, the final assembly (60) of the arch-shaped bamboo grid(30) is bent down at the center to collect the extracted oily or juicyfluid, so that the droplets of the fluid flow down to the center bottompart and fall into the oil-collecting pan.

As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, another embodiment of the arch-shaped bamboogrid is presented. A second arch-shaped bamboo grid (70) comprises aplurality of bamboo strips (20) and a grid mounting set (80) consistingof a rectangular steel frame (71) with a handle (72) and a pair of gridmounting plates (73) for mounting the bamboo strips (20). As seen inFIG. 8, a pair of grid mounting plates (73) made of stainless steel islocated at opposite sides of the frame (71). The grid mounting plates(73) consist of a plurality of slots (76) and bamboo strip retainers(75). The rectangular frame (71) is slightly bent up from the centertoward both long sides for collecting the oily fluid at the center. Across rod (74) is located at the center of the short side of therectangular frame (71) for tangentially retaining the bamboo strips(20). One end of the bamboo strips (20) is manually passed underneaththe cross bar (74) and both ends of the bamboo strips (20) are slightlybent up to forcibly insert between the bamboo strip retainers (75). Atthis point, the inner surface of the natural bamboo is bent downward andthe outer surface of the natural bamboo faces upward. As the cookingprogresses, the bamboo strips have a tendency to move from side to sidedue to the shrinkage from the cooking heat. To prevent the unnecessarymovement of the strips during broiling, the bamboo strips are fixedlyretained by the strip retainers (75). The extracted oily or juicy fluidflows down to the lowest center part and the droplets fall into theoil-collecting pan.

As shown in FIGS. 9 through 16, another embodiment of a disposablebamboo grid is introduced. A set of disposable bamboo grids (90)comprises a plurality of bamboo strips (20) arranged in parallel atuniform intervals and a pair of U-shaped end retainers (91) for clampingthe ends of the bamboo strips (20).

The clearance between the arranged bamboo strips (20) is the same as ora little less than the width of the bamboo strips (20). The disposablebamboo grids (90) are pre-fabricated in the factory for ready use andvacuum packed to preserve the natural bamboo freshness.

As seen in FIG. 10, a bent down mounting set (100) is provided formounting a set of disposable bamboo grids (90). The mounting set (100)comprises a steel frame (92), a pair of grid mounting plates (93) atopposite sides and braces (94) at both ends. As seen in FIG. 11, a setof disposable bamboo grids (90) is mounted on a bent down mounting set(100). As seen in FIG. 12, a set of disposable bamboo grids (90) mountedon a bent down mounting set (100) is installed on a BBQ grill to drainthe greasy liquid at the center.

As seen in FIG. 13, a bent up mounting set (130) is provided formounting a set of disposable bamboo grids (90). The mounting set (130)comprises a steel frame (131), a bent-up mounting plate (132) at the topcenter and a pair of braces (133) at both sides. As seen in FIG. 14, aset of disposable bamboo grids (90) is mounted on a bent up mounting set(130). As seen in FIG. 15, a set of disposable bamboo grids (90) mountedon a bent up mounting set (130) is installed on a BBQ grill to drain thegreasy liquid at both sides.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design,the present invention can be further modified within the spirit andscope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fallwithin the limits of the appended claims.

1. A barbeque grill consisting of an oven lower part under a diningtable, a pair of burning charcoal containers as a primary heat source,an oily liquid droplet collecting pan and a ventilation systemcomprises: a grid set fabricated with a plurality of natural bamboostrips (20) arranged at constant intervals to a clamping means, and agrid mounting set consisting of a metal frame and a pair of gridmounting plates for mounting said grid set.
 2. A barbeque grill asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said grid set (60) comprises an arch-shapedbamboo grid set (30) and a grid mounting set (50), said arch-shapebamboo grid set (30) having a plurality of bamboo strips (20), a pair ofend retainers (31) and a clip array (32), and said grid mounting set(50) having a rectangular steel frame (33), a pair of handles (35) andgrid mounting plates (34) for mounting the bamboo grid (30).
 3. Abarbeque grill as claimed in claim 2, wherein said end retainers (31)made of stainless steel are formed into a U-shape for forcibly andtightly clamping both ends of said bamboo strips (20) to preventunnecessary movement of said bamboo strips (20) during broiling.
 4. Abarbeque grill as claimed in claim 2, wherein said arch-shaped bamboogrid set (30) is assembled in the manner that the outer surface of thenatural bamboo faces upward and the inner surface of the natural bamboois bent downward and fixed to said clip array (32) at the center, saidarch-shaped bamboo grid (30) is bent down at the center to collect theextracted oily and juicy fluid at the center bottom part and fall intoan oil-collecting pan.
 5. A barbeque grill as claimed in claim 1,wherein said grid mounting set (80) consists of a rectangular steelframe (71) with a handle (72), a pair of grid mounting plates (73)disposed at opposite ends of the longer side of the frame (71) formounting the bamboo strips (20), a cross rod (74) located at the centerof the shorter side of the frame (71), said grid mounting plates (73)having a plurality of slots (76) and bamboo strip retainers (75).
 6. Abarbeque grill as claimed in claim 5, wherein said rectangular steelframe (71) is slightly bent up from said cross bar (74) located at thecenter toward both grid mounting plates (73) disposed at opposite endsof the longer side of the frame (71), so that one end of said bamboostrips (20) is manually inserted underneath said cross bar (74) and bothends of said bamboo strips (20) are slightly bent up for forciblyinserting between said bamboo strip retainers (75) to form anarch-shape.
 7. A barbeque grill as claimed in claim 6, wherein saidplurality of strip retainers (75) fixedly retains the ends of saidbamboo strips (20) to prevent unnecessary movement of said bamboo strips(20) during broiling.
 8. A barbeque grill as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid grill set is a pair of disposable bamboo grids (90) fabricated froma plurality of bamboo strips (20) arranged in parallel at uniformintervals to a pair of U-shaped end retainers (91) for clamping bothends of the bamboo strips (20) and vacuum packed to preserve the naturalbamboo freshness for ready use.
 9. A barbeque grill as claimed in claim8, wherein said disposable bamboo grids (90) are mounted on a bent downmounting set (100) comprising a steel frame (92), a pair of gridmounting plates (93) at opposite sides and braces (94) at both ends. 10.A barbeque grill as claimed in claim 8, wherein said disposable bamboogrids (90) are mounted on a bent up mounting set (130) comprising asteel frame (131), a bent-up mounting plate (132) at the top center anda pair of braces (133) at both sides.
 11. A barbeque grill as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said natural bamboo is sliced to produce a narrowbamboo strip (20) with a dimension of approximately 6˜10 mm (¼″˜½″) inwidth, 6 mm (¼″) in thickness and 200-400 mm (8″˜16″) in length, andsaid bamboo strip surface may be carved with various decorativeincisions not only for decorating, but also for extracting bamboo sapand allowing it to permeate into the cooking meat during broiling.